Monday has been a tough day for the Atlanta Braves as they lost game one of their doubleheader heartbreakingly. After losing that game, they learned lefty ace, and presumed NL Cy Young, Chris Sale would not start game two due to back spasms.
However, the team knew what was at stake in game two and turned to Grant Holmes for the starting assignment. He was great for Atlanta, giving them four scoreless innings with one walk and seven strikeouts.
Holmes spent ten years in the minor leagues but emerged this season as a great bullpen and starting option for the Braves. He has worked hard to get to this point and what a perfect way for him to cap this season. Kenny Powers eat your heart out.
Atlanta's bullpen fell apart at the end of game one but they bounced back and pitched five scoreless innings during game two. The offense struggled to get off the ground but they found a way to get it done in the end. Gio Urshela drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single and Marcell Ozuna added two insurance runs with a single in the seventh inning. This led the Braves to a 3-0 win over their NL East rivals.
“You know what, we are in. Anything can happen now.”
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) September 30, 2024
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Details, schedule of Braves Wild Card matchup with the Padres
2024 has been one of the hardest seasons for the Braves as they've dealt with multiple injuries to key players since the beginning of the season. It's been a season full of adversity at every turn yet somehow this team found a way to win 89 games and finish second in the division.
With Monday's win in game two, Atlanta heads to San Diego to face a talented Padres squad. The Braves were 3-4 against the Friars this season so it will be a tough series.
Atlanta celebrated briefly after clinching the fifth seed for the NL side of the playoffs. They will travel to San Diego and prepare for game one of a three-game series. It's not ideal to play 18 innings of baseball and travel to the West Coast to play an important series. Game times for all three games are as follows:
Game 1: Braves at Padres, 8:38 p.m. EST, ESPN
Game 2: Braves at Padres, 8:38 p.m. EST, ESPN2
Game 3: Braves at Padres, 7:08 p.m. EST (if needed), ESPN
Atlanta hasn't announced their postseason roster yet but Brian Snitker said he doesn't believe Chris Sale will be available for the Braves in the Wild Card round. This leaves Atlanta with a big decision for game one of the series. Ian Anderson, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Hurston Waldrep have all been throwing at Gwinnett and could be candidates to start the series.
According to Braves insider Grant McAuley, the team will decide who starts game one while on the flight to California. It's not the ideal situation they hoped for but it's the hand they've been dealt and they have to find a way to get it done.